Atco, human settlement in Waterford Township, New Jersey, United States of America
Atco is an unincorporated community in Waterford Township, Camden County, New Jersey, where about nine thousand people make their homes. It consists of roughly six square miles of flat, sandy land dotted with single-family houses, modest yards, and small ponds alongside gentle wooded areas.
Native Americans called the surrounding marshes a place of many deer before settlers arrived in the 1700s to clear farmland from rough terrain. Railroads built through the area in the mid-1800s linked Atco to Atlantic City and nearby towns, transforming it into a transportation hub with sawmills and small factories.
The name Atco may come from the Atlantic Transport Company or a Native American word meaning 'land of many deer.' Local stories and community gatherings reflect these origins, and residents take pride in knowing their neighbors and sharing in seasonal festivals and celebrations.
Atco sits about sixteen miles southeast of Camden and is easily accessible by U.S. Route 30, known as the White Horse Pike. The NJ Transit Atlantic City Line serves a local train station, making it straightforward for residents and visitors to travel to Camden, Atlantic City, or other destinations.
Atco was home to a dragway that opened in 1960 as New Jersey's first official drag racing strip and drew racing enthusiasts for over sixty years. The track served as a filming location for movies like 'Eddie and the Cruisers' and television shows such as 'Viva La Bam' before closing in 2023.
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